A Husband’s Eulogy by Stephen Page
Because today we celebrate Emily Jane’s life, her gifts, her legacies which live on and will cause us to
never forget her. We celebrate her as a greatly loved and appreciated; mother, daughter, sister,
aunt, wife and friend.
Emily Jane had friendly blue eyes, which in low light looked like her favourite clothes colour green.
Her eyes were a reflection of her warm and caring heart, an invitation to friendship and a window
into how she felt.
Throughout her life her flowing long hair and ponytails have helped define her stunning looks. Even
without hair following treatment, she embraced the change and lost none of her charm.
Forgive me Emily Jane for mentioning your ears, I have told you so many times how much I love
them! You would say “Cheers big ears!” Ears which you have passed on to Katie and Jamie. Ears
which remind me of puppets, some with big ears, which Emily loved to play with and present shows
with at church.
Her smile was pretty and charming. Her lips graced with words of encouragement and support to
those she met. Often she would complement or help complete strangers whether mothers
struggling with young children or somebody who had forgotten their purse at the checkout. She
believed and practiced the 20 second rule which encourages doing straight away acts of kindness
which God puts into our minds.
Emily Jane’s love of music and gift for playing flute has been a connection to some and a source of
spiritual help to many others. She would love to sing too, often in duets at church. Some of her
favourite songs are being celebrated today.
Emily Jane has the most beautifully shaped, petite hands, which with her love of craft have made the
most amazing things. If anyone was in need of something which she could sew, knit, cross-stitch or
crotchet, before you know it she has made it. Curtains, nappies, blankets, dresses, wheatees, just to
name a few. Not only did she make friends through these gifts but also she made friends through
teaching others how to sew.
Those who know Emily Jane well will know her love of Duck Egg Blue. Her car, handbag, purse and
growing numbers of items of furniture and upholstery in the home are giving way to this colour.
In the Spring we visited the Netherlands. In my words Emily Jane is “half double Dutch”, having a
Dutch mother and grand parents. She loved and connected with the flowers, the danish blue
pottery, the bikes the canals.
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In the last few weeks Emily Jane was so glad and proud to see Katie and Jamie staring in the Theatre
School summer musical performance. She was so proud of Jamie winning awards for his business
enterprise from the Mayor of Faringdon. And so very proud of Katie, to see her growing up and in
her new school uniform.
A valuable memory is Disneyland Paris where fun, reconciliation and love brought the family closer
together, to find strength to face together the challenges which Emily Jane had through her
treatments. She would have been so proud to hear the doctors and nurses comments of how
loving, united and gracious we were as a family in supporting Emily Jane in her final hours.
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It seems I have never felt love so deep and a friend I can call a soulmate. With so many shared
hopes, interests, gifts and fears in common. The health spa visits and increasing need for care,
brought our hearts closer and taught us how to value what really matters. The necessity to not
take love for granted, to daily say “I love you”, to reassure one another, to support those in our care,
both young and old.
Emily Jane lives on I’m sure. Every time it rains, I will hear Emily Jane singing her extra verse to “It’s
raining it’s pouring” – “the doctor came and pulled the chain and out came a choo choo train.”
Every night I go to bed I will hear her singing “Night night Katie night night Jamie, it’s time to go to
sleep”.
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Her last prayers, for the pain to end, have seemingly been meanly answered, however her constant
faith in Jesus Christ, for forgiveness, and for hope of Heaven, tell a different story.
Today we celebrate Emily Jane’s life, and take strength in knowing that she is now free of pain, at
peace, with her Saviour, and in the words of her favourite song, Emily Jane is “Finally home”.
